You need a license to transport passengers commercially by taxi. You can apply for one at the relevant transport authority in your city or county.

• The safety and operational efficiency of the business are ensured.
• There are no facts indicating that the applicant, as a business owner, or the person appointed to manage the business, is unreliable.
• The applicant, as a business owner, or the person appointed to manage the business is professionally qualified.
• The applicant and the business owners commissioned by the applicant to provide transportation services must have their place of business or branch office within the country, as defined by commercial law.

New applicants and existing business owners must be given appropriate consideration. Within each of these two groups, consideration is given in the order in which applications were submitted.

Regardless of the application, priority is given to those

• those who do not intend to operate the taxi business as their primary occupation,
• who have not operated their taxi business as their primary occupation or who have sold or leased it, in whole or in part, within the last 8 years,
• or has not properly fulfilled their operational obligations

An applicant may be granted only one license at a time, unless more licenses can be granted than there are applicants.

New applicants receive their license for 2 years. During this period, the rights and obligations arising from the license may not be transferred.

For legal entities under public law, the requirements are deemed to be met.

To obtain a permit for the commercial transportation of passengers by taxi, follow these steps:

• Submit the appropriate application to the transportation authority responsible for your area in the respective independent city or county, and include all required documents with the application.
• The authority will process your application and conduct the necessary hearings.
• You will receive a notice regarding the issuance or renewal of a taxi permit, including the delivery of the permit documents.

• Appeal. For more information on how to file an appeal, please refer to the notice regarding your application.
• A lawsuit before the administrative court after an appeal has been unsuccessful.

Deadlines only begin to run once a decision-ready application has been submitted. Once your application is complete, a decision will be made within three months. The deadline can be extended by three months if necessary. The general administrative procedural appeal period is one month.

The processing time may vary between the relevant transport authorities. The processing time may depend, among other things, on whether all documents relevant to the decision have been submitted or whether additional documents are required.

The transport authority of the respective independent city or district is responsible.

• Formal application (last name and first name of the applicant; residence and business address; for individuals: date and place of birth; number of vehicles, vehicle type, and capacity of the vehicles to be used)
• Certificates of employment or examination certificates (demonstrating professional competence) of the applicant or the person appointed to manage the business
• Certificate of equity capital / supplementary certificate (form in accordance with Section 2(2)(2) / Section 2(3) of the Ordinance on Access to the Profession of Road Passenger Transport [PBZugV]), not older than 12 months
• Certificate of good standing from the tax office, the municipality, the social security agency, and the workers’ compensation association, not older than 3 months (from the company, the legal representative, and the person appointed to manage the business / transportation management)
• Certificate of Good Conduct for submission to the authorities pursuant to Section 30(5) of the Federal Criminal Records Act (BZRG)
• Extract from the Central Trade Register pursuant to § 150(5) of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO) (for companies)
• Extract from the Driver Fitness Registry (FAER)

General Documents

• List of vehicles; if applicable, rental vehicles with rental agreement or leasing list
• Proof of liability insurance for taxis, including the vehicle identification number (WKZ)
• Business registration
• For partnerships: the list of partners, the partnership agreement, or other proof of authority to enter into contracts
• Certified extract from the commercial register

The amount of the fees depends on:

• the number of vehicles and
• the duration of the permit.

Cash/EC

• Forms available: Yes
• Written form required: Yes
• Informal application possible: No
• In-person appearance required: No
• Online service available: No